Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity News,There's having no discernment, and then there's this...A three-year-old boy remains in critical but stable condition at Addenbrooke's Hospital after being thrown into a crocodile enclosure at a Cambridgeshire zoo. His alleged attacker, a 30-year-old man from Norfolk with reported learning difficulties, was quickly released on bail with his identity withheld from the public, sparking backlash. In the middle of this horror, discount retailer Wowcher blasted out an email urging customers to "Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid."Yes, really.What the actual f @wowcher? pic.twitter.com/v7B83k8sch
— Paul O'Brien (@PaulOBrien) June 20, 2026The tone-deaf marketing stunt has triggered widespread revulsion, forcing the company into a grovelling "unreserved" apology while exposing yet another layer of institutional detachment from real human suffering.The attack unfolded on a Thursday afternoon at the family-run Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo near Huntingdon. The boy, who was not known to the suspect, suffered serious injuries including a broken arm, a broken pelvis likely caused by the impact of being thrown, and multiple crocodile bites.Zoo staff pulled him from the enclosure and administered immediate treatment at the scene. In a moment of extraordinary bravery, Tracey Johnson, wife of zoo owner Andy Johnson, jumped into the crocodile pit to help rescue the child.Cambridgeshire Police arrested the 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder. He was assessed as unfit for interview and has since been released on bail until 18 September. His identity remains hidden.The decision to release the suspect on bail while concealing his identity has fuelled intense public anger. Many see it as further evidence of a justice system that prioritises processes and sensitivities over the basic protection of children and the public.Some media outlets also softened the deliberate nature of the attack by reporting that the boy had "ended up" in the crocodile enclosure rather than stating he was thrown.Screenshots of the Wowcher email spread rapidly. Fury erupted on social media and community forums. The Norwich Norfolk UK Community Notice Board posted: "Why do wowcher think its ok to use this as a heading on their emails??"Wowcher apologises 'unreservedly' for email appearing to mock crocodile attack on young boyhttps://t.co/Sd1uguKddI
